O Kind Creator, Bow Thine Ear

O kind Cre­at­or

bend Thine ear

To mark the cry

to know the tear

Before Thy throne of mer­cy spent

In this Thy ho­ly fast of Lent.

Our hearts are op­en

Lord

to Thee;

Thou know­est our in­firm­ity;

Pour out on all who seek Thy face

Abundance of Thy par­don­ing grace.

Our sins are ma­ny

this we know;

Spare us

good Lord

Thy mer­cy show;

And for the hon­or of Thy name

Our faint­ing souls to life re­claim.

Give us the self con­trol that springs

From dis­ci­pline of out­ward things

That fast­ing in­ward sec­ret­ly

The soul may pure­ly dwell with Thee.

We pray Thee

Ho­ly Tri­ni­ty

One God

un­chang­ing Un­ity

That we from this our ab­sti­nence

May reap the fruits of pe­ni­tence.